OUR SPECIALTIES
Pediatric Dentist
What is a Pediatric Dentist?
Pediatric Dentist in Tarzana, CA
Pediatric dentistry is a specialized field of dental treatment, revolving around the dental care needs of children. Dentists who specialize as pediatric dentists are called pedodontists. A good pedodontist has taken specialized classes and additional training beyond that of most regular or general dentists, in order to learn about the best treatment for pediatric or children’s dental problems.
What Does a Pedodontist Do?
A pedodontist provides many dental treatments to children, ranging from routine dental care—such as cleanings—to x-ray examinations and working to determine if a child’s jaw and teeth are developing properly. For most pedodontists, there is a lot of emphasis on preventative dental care. This is because early intervention and proper dental practices can make a child much less likely to develop dental problems—such as cavities or occlusions—as they progress into adolescence and then adulthood. Your child’s kids dentist will likely spend a lot of time with your child, teaching them how to properly care for their teeth and gums. This dental education—at an early age—can last a lifetime, establishing regular, healthy dental habits such as flossing and proper tooth brushing. The kids dentist may also choose to perform procedures such as tooth sealants, which work to prevent cavities.
Pediatric Dentists Comfort Children
You know that some adults have an exaggerated fear of seeing the dentist. Some children experience the same dread. A dental office can be a scary place for a child, with all of the specialized dental equipment and the sounds made by some of the dental machines. However, an experienced kids dentist – your child’s pedodontist – knows how to work with a frightened child, comforting them and relaxing them before proceeding with an exam or any treatment processes. A good kids dentist will set your child at ease, explaining everything that is going on and never creating an atmosphere of fear. They use child-friendly language and techniques that help demystify the dental experience, turning what can be a daunting visit into an enjoyable one. This positive dental experience – especially for a young child – is likely to result in the child growing into an adult who is comfortable with routine dental care and who regularly gets dental checkups. Establishing a good relationship with their own dental needs at a young age means your child is going to have fewer dental problems as they age, avoiding many of the dental pitfalls of their peers. By fostering a sense of trust and understanding with their kids dentist, your child is set on a path toward lifelong oral health, equipped with the knowledge and confidence to maintain their smiles.
NURSING DECAY
Baby bottle tooth decay is the result of frequent, prolonged contact with liquids that contain sugars such as fruit juices, milk, formula or any other sweetened drinks. Human breast milk is also a contributor to baby bottle tooth decay. As the sugars break down in the mouth, bacteria start feeding on the sugars, produce acids and cause tooth decay.
If left untreated, decayed teeth can cause pain and discomfort. Not only can decayed teeth affect your child’s comfort, primary teeth also help guide permanent teeth into place. If the teeth are damaged or absent, they are unable to help guide permanent teeth into their proper position, possibly affecting future crowding or crooked teeth of adult teeth. Badly decayed baby teeth could lead to an abscessed tooth, with the infection spreading to between the teeth and the gum or affecting the root of the tooth.Listed below are some tips to preventing baby bottle tooth decay:
- To calm your baby, don't give a bottle filled with sugary liquids; instead, give plain water or use a pacifier.
- Don’t coat your baby’s pacifier in a sweetener of any kind such as sugar, or honey as a way to comfort them.
- Don't put your baby to bed with a bottle filled with sugary liquids. Plain water is best.
- Use a wet cloth or gauze to wipe your child's teeth and gums after each feeding. This helps remove any excess sugar preventing the chance for bacteria to form.
If live in or around Tarzana and you suspect your child has baby bottle tooth decay, contact our office or schedule an appointment for a consultation today.
DENTAL SEALANTS
Teeth Sealants
Sealants are thin layers of resin that are placed on the pits, fissures, and grooves of molars to prevent decay on these surfaces.The majority of decay on back teeth starts in the grooves and pits of chewing surfaces, especially during the first few years after their eruption. Sealing these surfaces with composite resins prevents this kind of decay.Sealants are one of the most effective methods of preventing decay on the surfaces where they are placed. Although it is still a possibility that decay may develop on surfaces in between teeth, sealants significantly reduce the overall chance of having cavities.If you have any questions about dental sealants and you live in or around Tarzana, give us a call today!
PRIMARY TEETH
Why Primary Teeth Are Important:
Many parents ask why baby teeth are so important to their child’s health when they fall out on their own eventually. Primary teeth stay in place until a permanent tooth underneath erupts, pushing it out and taking it’s place. These teeth are important to the natural development and growth of what will become your child’s permanent smile. Emphasizing healthy oral habits at an early age also promote good nutrition and encourage a positive self-image.
In some instances, when a child loses baby teeth too soon, a space maintainer may be recommended to prevent space loss and future dental damage. Speak with one of our doctors to find out if this is an option for your child. If you live in or around Tarzana, call or schedule an appointment today.
TOOTH ERUPTION
Even though they aren’t visible, children’s primary teeth begin forming before they are even born. At around the four month mark the primary teeth begin pushing through the gums. By the age of three, all 20 primary teeth have erupted.
Permanent teeth begin appearing around age 6, starting with the first molars and lower central incisors. This process continues until around age 21. Adults have 28 permanent teeth, or up to 32 including wisdom teeth.
Even before your baby’s first tooth erupts you can use a warm clean washcloth to gently swab the gums clean after every meal. When the first tooth erupts you can gently brush with a soft toothbrush to get them used to having something in their mouths. Do not use toothpaste until your child is at least 2 years old. At around age two you can begin applying a pea-sized amount. Emphasizing healthy dental habits at an early age contributes to better oral health in the future.
If you live in or around Tarzana and have a question about your child's permanent tooth eruption, call our office today!
CHILD'S FIRST VISIT
Your Child's First Visit
Your child’s first dental visit should be scheduled around their first birthday. One of the most important reasons of this visit is to familiarize your child with the dental office environment and to ease any anxiety associated with future visits. During this time the dentist can examine your child’s dental development and address dental issues such as baby bottle decay, or any teething tenderness while providing preventive care when needed. On this first visit, a gentle but thorough examination will be performed to monitor growth and development and address any problem areas.
Early examination provides your child with preventive dental care while establishing healthy dental habits at an early age. Ensure that your child’s future smile is a healthy, confident one. If you live in or around Tarzana, contact our office with any questions you may have or schedule a dental visit today.
NITROUS GAS
Most children feel comfortable when visiting the dentist. Early exposure to the dentist helps younger patients to associate the dental office with feeling of relaxation. Some children however, may feel nervous before their visit or while sitting in the dental chair. Sometimes they need more than gentle care to feel relaxed.
Nitrous gas is a safe sedative used to help your child relax during the dental visit while allowing the doctor to effectively treat your child.Nitrous gas is a blend of oxygen and nitrous oxide. Before the procedure a fitted mask is placed over your child’s nose and as they breathe, the blend is absorbed through the lungs. At the end of the treatment, the nitrous gas is removed and has no lingering effects. One of the side effects during treatment is a sense of contentment and relaxation one of the reasons why nitrous gas is also known as “laughing gas.”
The use of nitrous gas is very safe as it is rapidly absorbed, is reversible, and can be adjusted in concentration. Your child is fully conscious and keeps all of their natural reflexes while absorbing the nitrous gas. If you live in or around Tarzana and are interested in learning more about the use of nitrous gas during your child’s visits, or in other alternatives, please contact our offices to answer any of your questions or schedule an appointment to find out if nitrous gas is a suitable option for your child.
PULP THERAPY FOR KIDS
Pulp Therapy (for baby teeth)
The pulp of a tooth is the inner, central core of the tooth and contains blood vessels and nerves. Dental caries (cavities) and trauma to the tooth are the primary reasons for children to undergo pulp therapy.Your child may need pulp therapy if he/she has
- Tooth pain for no apparent reason
- A tooth that is sensitive to temperature changes
- A broken tooth
The main purpose of pulp therapy is that the tooth is not lost. Primary teeth are needed for chewing and speaking and serve as space savers for permanent teeth. Without the primary teeth to guide them, existing neighboring teeth can crowd in, causing permanent teeth to grow in crooked or tilted.
The two forms of pulp therapy for children's teeth are: vital pulp therapy for primary teeth (pulpotomy) and non-vital pulp therapy for primary teeth (pulpectomy).
Vital pulp therapy is for cases in which the tooth’s pulp may be salvaged. The main purpose is to maintain and protect existing healthy pulp by removing the diseased pulp tissue within the crown portion of the tooth. Next, an agent is placed to prevent bacterial growth and to calm the remaining nerve tissue. This is followed by a final restoration (usually a stainless steel crown).
Non-vital pulp therapy is required when the entire pulp is diseased (into the root canal(s) of the tooth). During this treatment, the diseased pulp tissue is completely removed from all parts of the tooth. The canals are cleansed and filled with a special material meant to be naturally absorbed by the body while the root prepares for the primary tooth to fall out and be replaced by a permanent tooth. A crown is placed on the tooth to prevent fractures.
If the pulp is severely damaged then your doctor may recommend removing the tooth entirely. If this is a case ask if space maintainers are necessary for future development.
If you live in or around Tarzana and you suspect your child is in need of pulp therapy, contact our office or schedule an appointment for a consultation today.
ORAL SEDATION
Another alternative for helping nervous children relax at the dentist’s office is the use of sedation. When your child becomes so anxious that cooperating becomes difficult for them, sedation is an option. Sedation is a method in which medications are used to help your child relax during the dental visit and allow the doctor to effectively treat your child. Sedations tend to produce feelings of drowsiness and relaxation and are not meant to make your child unconscious.
Sedation is also a way to for the dentist to provide more effective treatment along with preventing that may result from uncontrolled movements in an anxious, uncooperative child.
When administered according to the sedation guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry by a pediatric dentist, sedation is a safe, effective option. If you live in or around Tarzana and are interested in learning more about the use of sedation during your child’s visits please contact our offices to answer any of your questions or schedule an appointment to find out if sedation is a suitable option for your child.
SPACE MAINTAINERS
Primary teeth stay in place until a permanent tooth comes in from underneath its position and pushes it out, taking its place in the mouth. Some children lose their primary teeth too early due to accidents or dental disease. When this is the case, a space maintainer may be recommended by your dentist to prevent space loss and future dental problems. It is important to remember the fact that some teeth are not replaced until a child is 12 or 14 years old.
Space maintainers are appliances made of metal or plastic that are custom fit to your child’s mouth. Most children adjust to them quickly. Without a maintainer, the teeth can tilt toward the empty space and cause permanent teeth to come in crooked.
With empty space, the teeth beside the gap may tilt or shift into the empty space. When adjacent teeth shift into the empty space, they create crowding in the permanent teeth and they come in crooked. If left untreated, the condition may require future orthodontic treatment. Space maintainers hold open the empty space left by a lost tooth. They steady the remaining teeth, preventing movement until the permanent tooth takes its natural position. It is more affordable to keep teeth in their normal positions with a space maintainer than to move them back in place with orthodontic treatment.
If you live in or around Tarzana, call us today to schedule your child's preventive consultation.
SPORTS MOUTH GUARD
Protecting Your Child’s Teeth During Sporting Events
Mouth protectors are soft plastic appliances that shape themselves to the upper teeth and are important sports equipment. Not only do they protect the teeth but they also protect the lips, cheeks, and tongue and can protect your child from serious head injuries such as concussions and jaw fractures.If your child is involved in a physical activity in which their head is in contact with other players or equipment then consider getting a mouth guard for your child today. There are various types of appliances available so call our offices for more information or to schedule an appointment with one of our doctors to find out what type of mouth guard is best for your child.
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